Chapter 2

I stared at him, eyes burning.

Then I laughed.

"My mother? She's dead. What bills?"

Silas's pupils contracted.

The next second, his palm cracked across my face.

"You'll say anything now just to deny your crime, won't you?"

Jade suddenly spoke up.

"Elara, Silas might have problems with you, but he's never taken it out on your mom. Even I know he set up a medical account for her. He puts in hundreds of thousands of dollars every month."

I went still.

Slowly looked up at Silas.

His expression was ice-cold. Same as always.

A man like him would never give Mom hundreds of thousands of dollars a month.

If he had, she wouldn't be dead.

They were both lying.

Threatening me with a fake account to force the divorce.

Lying...

Silas's voice was arctic.

"Gonna keep denying it?"

I took a deep breath. "What do you want?"

"Get on your knees. Apologize to her."

"Oh, there's no need, we used to be frie—"

Before Jade could finish, I dropped to my knees.

Pressed my forehead to the ground.

"I'm sorry."

Silas stared at me like I'd grown a second head.

I stood up.

Dusted off my knees.

"If that's all, I'm leaving."

The pills at the rental were still waiting.

"Stop."

A knife clattered onto the table.

Silas's voice was flat. "Jade got hurt because of you. An apology doesn't cut it."

I turned back.

He sneered. "She got cut. So will you."

Jade clutched her scratched arm, eyes welling with tears.

"Fine."

Dying was the goal anyway.

I picked up the knife.

Drove it straight toward my heart.

"ELARA!"

A hand clamped around mine, gripping the blade.

Silas fought against my strength.

I stared into his eyes.

The tip inched closer to my chest.

"ELARA!"

I held the handle.

He held my hand.

"You want your kid in an orphanage? Then go ahead. Do it!"

I froze.